Everything you always wanted to know about ghosts but were afraid to ask

A new book explains why Britain is the most haunted nation on earth and why a recession is good for ghouls

It was 3am when Sting woke up in bed, looked into a corner of the room and saw
a woman holding a child. Naturally he thought it was his wife, Trudie. But
then she woke up too and said: “Gosh, who is that?” — and the figure
disappeared.

“I would never have said I believe in ghosts, until I saw one,” said the
musician, who also experienced voices and flying objects in the same, very
old house. “Intellectually, I don’t believe in them. But I’ve experienced
them on an emotional level.”

Ghosts. Suddenly they are everywhere, and not just because Hallowe’en is
almost upon us. A quarter of British adults claim to have experienced one,
up from 19% in 2003 and 7% in the 1950s. England is said to have more ghosts
per square mile than any other country in the world — although,
frustratingly, precise figures are unforthcoming . . .